CENTERVILLE, Mass. -
Loyola University Maryland defensive midfielders Josh Hawkins and Scott Ratliff were named the ECAC Lacrosse League's Specialist and Co-Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, on Monday, the conference office announced.

The duo combined for six goals, five caused turnovers and five ground balls on Saturday, while helping the Greyhounds' defense hold Fairfield University to just seven goals in a 13-7 league win that clinched a spot in the upcoming ECAC Championships.

Ratliff, who earned the defensive honor for the second time this season and fourth time in his career, set a new offensive standard for long-stick players, scoring four goals against the Stags. It is believed he is the first player in the modern era of college lacrosse to score four goals in a game with a pole.

The senior long-stick midfielder also was highly disruptive on the defensive end, causing four turnovers while picking up three groundballs.

His first goal came after Brendan Donovan won a faceoff and got a pass to Ratliff who ran into the box and hit a stepdown shot from 12 yards out. He then scored again in the first quarter, this time in settled offense. Ratliff set a screen for Nikko Pontrello and then rolled to the right side of the crease where Pontrello hit him with a pass for a one-on-one opportunity with the Fairfield goalie.

Minutes later, he tallied a second-quarter goal off a set piece, flicking in a Justin Ward pass for his third goal of the game. His final goal of the game came in the first three minutes of the third quarter, as he and short-stick midfielder Pat Laconi played give-and-go in transition, and Ratliff nailed a shot, keeping his shot percentage at 1.000 for the day, scoring four goals on four attempts.

Hawkins also was perfect on both of his shot attempts against Fairfield. The short-stick midfielder scored his first of the game after running a slow clear before ripping a shot from seven yards out to put Loyola up 9-4 with 56 seconds left before halftime.

He added to his tally with a goal late in the third quarter. After Ratliff caused a turnover, Hawkins brought the ball into the offensive box, and he used a fake pass to draw space on the top left side before dodging down the alley and finishing with a hard overhand shot with 18 seconds left in the frame.

This season, Ratliff has scored 11 goals while assisting on three, and he has 27 goals and 13 assists in 53 career games. He also moved within eight caused turnovers of tying former Loyola All-American P.T. Ricci for the school record (90).

Hawkins, who has played in just four games this year, has scored five goals and has an assist. In 44 career games, he has tallied 20 goals and eight assists.

The duo and the Greyhounds (9-2 overall, 5-0 ECAC) are back in action on Saturday, April 13, at 1 p.m. from Ridley Athletic Complex where they will host the University of Denver.